§ Lord Evans of Claughtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer of Lord Henley on 2nd May 1991 (H.L. Deb., col. WA 36), why they consider it appropriate to determine the benefits payable to a widowed parent and family on the basis of the sex of the parent, since many widowed fathers reduce their career commitments in order to assume the duties of the late mother.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)Since its inception, the National Insurance scheme has provided a range of contribu-tory benefits to women who are widowed, based on their late husbands' contributions, reflecting the fact that women are more likely than men to experience greater difficulty in supporting themselves and families after their bereavement. To extend existing widow's benefit provision to widowers would cost about £415 million a year.